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Kicking Off Military Family Month

We have asked a lot of service members and their families over the past decade, and in honor of their service, President Obama signed a proclamation to establish November 2014 as Military Family Month.

Throughout our history, members of our military have put their lives on the line to defend our country and preserve our security. While this requires a tremendous personal sacrifice, it is also important to recognize the unyielding love and support that their families provide every step of the way to make this sacrifice possible. As a proud military mom myself, I know that when you have a family member who is in the military, the whole family serves too.

Last week, I visited the Center for the Intrepid at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, where I had the opportunity to see firsthand how state-of-the art rehabilitation equipment like the FlowRider and zero-gravity treadmills are being incorporated into an innovative rehabilitation process for our wounded soldiers — it is truly remarkable. I also met with service members and military spouses stationed in San Antonio to discuss the challenges that are an inherent part of military life, such as constant relocation and missing family milestones due to deployments.

We have asked a lot of service members and their families over the past decade. They have sacrificed so much on behalf of our country. I am proud to be part of an Administration that has supported our troops, veterans, and their families in historic ways. In April, First Lady Michelle Obama and I announced the unveiling of the Veterans Employment Center, an innovative tool to help veterans and spouses find career opportunities. As of this summer, all 50 states and the District of Columbia have adopted the Military Children’s Interstate Compact, which eases some of the burdens of transitions for military connected kids. And today, in honor of their service, President Obama signed a proclamation to establish November 2014 as Military Family Month.

As more than a million service men and women end their military careers and transition back to civilian life, there is more that we can do together to welcome them home. That’s why First Lady Michelle Obama and I started Joining Forces — to connect service members, veterans, and their families with the resources available to them and to rally our country to do even more. Our military families have earned our respect and admiration — and so it's up to us to show them how much we appreciate their service with more than words, but with real action.

So this month, let’s continue to make progress by honoring our military families and pledging to do more for them moving forward. As the President stated in his proclamation, “As a grateful Nation, we pay tribute to all who wear America’s uniforms, and we honor the enduring strength and dedication of their families. This month, we resolve to uphold our responsibility to the heroes who serve in our name and their loved ones.”

Together, we can truly help our service members, veterans and their families thrive. Thank you for your help. God bless our troops.

Dr. Jill Biden visits with Army 1st Lt. Kelly Elmlinger, from Brooke Army Medical Center’s Warrior Transition Battalion, at the Center for the Intrepid, Oct. 22, 2014. Elmlinger dominated at the Invictus Games for warrior-athletes in London, competing in track, field, cycling, swimming, wheelchair racing and cycling. U.S. Army photo by Robert Shields.